Cheerfulness

CHEERFULNESS. BY FRANCIS M. SHAFER. One of the great blessings that every person in this life should seek for, is a cheerful disposition. It is a pleasure to meet a per- son who seems ever surrounded with a sunny, and pleasant atmos- phere, one who has a kind word for everyone he meets. It is quite impossible to associate with such an individual without partaking, to some extent, of the samegood influence. And we truly feel, when separated from his company, that we are better for having met him. Now, dear friends, did you ever stop to think that each of you isone of the vast number of humanity, and it is your duty to make the lives of others happy by your cheerfulness? Selfish, indeed, is the person who enjoys the cheerful, pleasant disposition of others, but refuses to make himself agreeable to his fellow as- sociates. It is like the individual who gladly receives gifts from others, but never bestows them himself; such a person is looked upon as being miserly and mean. In like manner, he who never speaks a kind word, or who fails to encourage his fellow men along the rugged pathway of life, is guilty of stinginess, to a greater extent even than he who withholds substantial means. He who has become so sour in his disposition, that he cannot speak a kind word, or be- stow a pleasant look, is not only injuring others, but himself as well. It pays to be cheerful, even though it may cost us a special effort. By constantly striving to overcome a sour and unpleasant disposition, if we should be so unfortunate as to possess one, we add strength to our general character, and cause our society to be desired by those whom we meet. At the same time, while we are cheerful and genial in our disposition, we should not be extremists, for a trait or principle of character which is overdrawn , is gen- erally very much assumed; and of all dispicable things, a hypocrite is the worst . Be cheerful , at the same time be yourself be natural , , Moab, Utah.